Matthew Cox

Matthew Cox has been a defense reporter since 1998. During his time with Military.com he covered all the services, with a close eye on Army weapons development and procurement, body armor testing, camouflage, ammunition as well as readiness and training issues. He previously worked for 12 years for Army Times. He traveled to Afghanistan and Iraq numerous times from 2002 to 2008, covering Stryker and light infantry units in combat. He also spent four years in the U.S. Army during the second half of the 1980s, serving as an infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division.

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Most Popular Military News

Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis serving in Afghanistan. (I Have Your Back/Facebook)

New York Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Will Finally Receive Medal of Honor

Advocates pushed for years for Michael Ollis to receive the nation's highest honor. On Tuesday, their dream became a reality.

The West Pittston United Methodist Church, where hundreds of residents and veterans gathered to honor U.S. Navy veteran Jeffrey Kalnas, who died without immediate family, ensuring he was not buried alone. (Facebook)

Hundreds Turn Out to Honor Navy Veteran Who Would Have Been Buried Alone

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An enlisted soldier's rank insignia on a uniform jacket.

Why Some Disabled Veterans Can't Get Both VA Disability and Military Retirement Pay

Military service members planning medical retirement face a critical decision point at the 20-year mark.

Cher Ami, the heroic messenger pigeon who saved the Lost Battalion in WWI. (Army Photo)

How a Wounded Pigeon Named Cher Ami Saved the Lost Battalion in WWI

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First Black Marine Medal of Honor Recipientv

This 20-Year-Old Sacrificed His Life and Became the First Black Marine Medal of Honor Recipient

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Latest Military Videos

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AI-Integrated Technology Dominates Floor at World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia

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US Forces Transfer IS Prisoners from Syria to Iraq by Buses

US forces transfer IS prisoners from Syria to Iraq by buses.

Investigations and Features

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Army Capt. Jeremy Kuykendall and his wife Kate, cradle their daughter

Unsupervised: Military Child Care Centers Slow to Report Abuse with Little Oversight

A Military.com investigation into military day care centers revealed that service branch rules generally prioritize...

Army News

Fort Leonard Wood Missouri Army Spc. Wooster Rancy sentenced to life in prison in the murder of Sgt. Sarah Roque in 2024.

Missouri US Army Soldier Sentenced to Life for Murder of Sergeant

Fort Leonard Wood Missouri Army Spc. Wooster Rancy was found guilty by a military jury of premeditated murder of a victim...

Trump Turns to US Military Leaders for Diplomatic Efforts on Iran and Ukraine

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Navy News

Navy Leader Wants to Move Faster and Leaner Instead of Turning to Aircraft Carriers in Crisis

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Air Force News

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Space Force News

POLARIS at NATO Exercise REPMUS 25 in October 2025. POLARIS is a small, gimballed free space optical communication solution for naval vessels and unmanned surface vessels. (Photo source: NATO DIANA, courtesy of Astrolight)

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Marine Corps News

Then-Marine Recon team leader Brad Colbert rides in a Humvee during the early days of the Iraq invasion in 2003. Photo credit: Evan Wright.

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Lieutenant General Karsten "Hazel" Heckl leads the Combat Development and Integration and Marine Corps Warfighting Lab Marines and sailors on a farewell run, Aug. 8, 2024, aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. (Matthew Krogull)

Marine Warfighting Lab at Quantico Gets $10 Million Boost: 'Top Priority'

"We know the exquisite level of work that it does," Rep. Eugene Vindman told Military.com about a $10 million infusion to the...

Coast Guard News

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The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106) transits the Philippine Sea. Stockdale is underway and conducting operations in international waters as part of a dual carrier strike force exercise. The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Pacific region routinely for more than 70 years promoting regional security, stability and prosperity. (U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Connor D. Loessin)

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